FGCU’s New Athletic Director

OF THE OVER 350 NCAA DIVISION, ONE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS ONLY 62 ARE WOMEN THIS WEEK FGCU FGCU AD CALLING HARGUS ANNOUNCED HE'S A 10 INTENTION TO MOVE ON IN THE DOOR FOR LAUREN LEISTER TO STEP IN ON AN INTERIM BASIS AS WGCU’S KATE CRONIN SHARES SHE LOOKS TO CONTINUE TO RISE IN WOMEN ENTERING LEADERSHIP ROLES FOR ATHLETIC INSTITUTIONS. >> FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF HARGUS WAS HEADED TO NORTH CAROLINA STATE. THE UNIVERSITY TURN TO SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN IN CHARGE OF THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT BEFORE. LAUREN LEISTER. LEAST OR PREVIOUSLY HELPED RUN THE DEPARTMENT IN 2023. SHE NOW HAS THE TITLE OF INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND HAS BEEN A PART OF THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT SINCE 2020. ACCORDING TO LATEST DATA FROM THE NCAA, ONLY 16% OF DIVISION. ONE SCHOOLS HAVE A FEMALE FLECK DIRECTOR. WE ASKED LEASER ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PART OF THAT SMALL GROUP. >> BEING A FEMALE LEADER IN ANY INDUSTRY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY. BUT I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT. A LOT SPECIFIC TO THE COLLEGE ATHLETICS INDUSTRY BECAUSE THERE HAVEN'T BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU DESCRIBED. I THINK IT COMES WITH A GREAT LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY. AND WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT IT IS. I OWE IT TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG WOMEN TO CREATE THE FLOOR FOR THEM. SO EVERYTHING THAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. I WANT THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN TO THINK, WELL, THAT'S GREAT. I'M GOING TO DO BETTER. >> SHE FACES A DAUNTING TASK OF MOVING INTO THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ROLE IN A TIME WHERE SMALLER CONFERENCES LIKE THE ATLANTIC SUN ARE LOSING PLAYERS AND A NUMBER OF SPORTS TO LARGER CONFERENCES TO HAVE MORE MONEY FOR YOU. AND I L. IMAGE IN LIKE THIS MONEY. THE PLAYERS CAN BE PAID. WE ALSO ASKED LEAST ARE ABOUT AND I L IN HER NEW ROLE AT THE UNIVERSITY. >> ABSOLUTELY. IT'S SOMETHING I THOUGHT ABOUT. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTO SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT IF IF I HADN'T SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT FREQUENTLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS CAMPUS, INCLUDING UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT IN OUR COACHES. SO THAT STRATEGY IS IMPORTANT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE WORKING ON. >> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, HER INITIAL PLAN WAS TO WORK IN THE NFL, BUT SHE SAYS WHEN SHE REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS, SHE FOUND HER PLACE LEESER MOVES INTO THE INTERIM POSITION WHILE ALSO SERVING AS DEPUTY ATHLETICS DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M KATE CRONIN